Ore-concentrating- machine



F; E. SMALL. om; conceummms MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IAN 2], I919- 1,314,371 PatentedAug. 26,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET WITNESS:

INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

F. E. SMALL.

ORE CONCENTRATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 27. I919- 1,314,371 Patented Aug. 26,1919.

ZSHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR.

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f. L M %6j% ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

FREDERICK E. SMALL, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ORE-GONCENTRATING MACHINE.

Application filed January 27, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FnnDnRioK E. SMALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Ore-Concentrating Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ore concentrating machines which are employed in separating mineral grains from their ores and particularly to an apparatus of this character which may use either dead or flowing' water, and the object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, and etlicient separator having facility for effecting violent and antagonistic concussions of the water used by the separator and for trapping froth and slime and saturating the same, also, to provide the separator with a peculiar concentrating table having facility for'cleaning concentrates received thereon.

I attain these objects and other advantages by means of the mechanism and combination of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1, is a side elevation of the separator, partly sectioned, embodying my inventlon.

Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the same, the endless sprocket chain being omitted.

Fig. 3, is a front elevation of the same, and showing the means for guiding the separator in oblique direction and the escalloped wheels for jarring the machine.

Fig. 4, is a top plan view of the tank proper, and showing the self-cleaning concentrating table in the floor of the tank, a part of my invention.

Fig. 5, is a transverse section through the tank, substantially on the line V-V, on Fig. 4, and showin the rotary gate for regulating the discharge of concentrates from the concentrating table, a part of my invention.

Fig. 6, is a transverse section through the concentrating table, on the line VI-VI, on F ig. 1.

Fig. 7, is a top plan view of a fragment of the carrier member and supporting medium, and showing the pivoted guide for Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 26, 1919.

Serial No. 273,253.

deflecting the tank in oblique direction, a part of my invention, and r Fig. 8, is a perspective view from the lower side of the froth and slime trap, a part of my invention.

Similar numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawi11gthe concrete emplacement l, the metal sills 2, the metal cross sills 3, secured on the emplacement, constitute the supporting medium for the separator mechanism hereinafter described.

Escalloped wheels l, are revolubly mounted in bearing boxes 5, the latter being disposed oppositely in pairs and secured on the sills 2. Corrugated plates 6, is secured on one of the sills 2, at an intermediate point thereon between the bearing boxes 5. A vertically extending pivot bearing 7, is secured on the forward cross sill 3, so that it will be disposed closely adjacent to one of the sills 2, and is provided with a bore 8, of a suitable depth to loosely receive the pivot member hereinafter described. A horizontally disposed carrier member 9, which may be either of wood or metal, preferably metal, and substantially as wide as the supporting members and long enough to allow its end portions to project a little distance beyond the ends of the supporting medium, when the former is reeiprocated horizontally forward and rearward a distance of 2 or 3 inches, more or less, is provided to convey a concentrator hereafter described. A segmental wheel 10, is-rotatably mounted on the lower side of the carrier, at one side thereof, and directly over the corrugated plate 6, and is provided with cogs or teeth 11 which are adapted to loosely engage the corrugations on the plate 6. A coupler 12, is secured on the front end of the carrier and a link 13, is connected by a pin 14L, with a coupler, in such a manner that the link may turn thereon. A pivot 15, is formed integral with the link 13, and at right angles thereto, and is adapted to loosely enter the bore 8, in the bearing 7, and turn therein. A coupler 1G, is mounted on the rear end of the carrier and a connecting rod 17, is

movably connected therewith by a pin 18, which is extended loosely through the rod and coupler in the well known manner, the outer end of the rod is connected with a crank 19, which is mounted on a driving wheel 20,0n a drive shaft 21, the latter being driven by any suitable power. An elongated tank 22, is secured on the carrier 9, and is adapted to be carried thereby. The tank is provided with a bottom portion 23, which is dimensioned in length and width,

substantially the same as the carrier, and is in which recess a hollow'corrugated table 28,

provided with a series of inclined parallel ridges 29, is entered. The upper ends of the ridges 29, register with the inner end of the curved portion 24. The corrugations or ridges 29, are formed to slope downwardly, thereby forming valleys 30. The table 28, is provided with an integral head 31 and a foot plate 32, the latter having a vertical face portion 33,'extending from its upper edge downwardly a little distance and then formed concaved, thereby forming with the head 31, non-communicating chambers 34 beneath the ridges. Openings 35, are made in the foot plate, at the ends of the valleys 30, for the purpose of discharging therethrough the concentrates which shall accumulate therein. Nipples 36, are extended through the head 31 and communicate with the chambers 34, and with air pipe 39, the latter communicating with a source of compressed air, not shown, thereby air under pressure is admitted to the chambers 34, and vented therefrom, through orifices 40, across the valleys 30, in this instance, at a little angle, and against the slopes of the ridges 29. A gate 41, is rotatably mounted in the sides of the tank and is adapted for opening and closing the discharge openings at the lower ends of the valleys 30, said gate comprises a rotatable shaft 42, having radial arms 43, carrying a conveXed plate 44, which is designed and adapted to be closely adjusted with the concaved portion of the foot plate 32, for the purpose of being rotated to regulate the discharge of concentrates from the concentrating table 28, through openings 35, at the lower ends of the valleys 30. A handle 45, is secured on the outer end of the shaft 42, for conveniently 'operating the gate. Down spouts 46, are secured on the carrier, and their upper ends are adapted for receiving discharges of concentrates and solution from the valleys 30, in the concentrating table and their lower ends communicate with a receptacle or trough 47,.

precincts of the tank and are provided with a depth a little greater *than one half the depth of the tank, so that they may penetrate the water in the tankand thereby form compartments 51, for receiving and trapping froth and slimes which may be carried by the solution in the tank during the separating. or concentrating process. The concaved sides of the plates 50, are, preferably,

presented to the receiving end of the tank,,so

that the foremost of the plates will be better adapted to arrest-froth and slimes in the case of running solutions from auxiliary separators delivered to the tank 22, for com pletion of the process of concentrating mineral grains. Spaced apart sprocket wheels 52, are revolubly mounted in the tank, on which an endless sprocket chain 53, is operatively mounted, the endless chain being provided with transverse plates 54, which are projected outwardly of the chain and adapted for dragging the tailings from the tank and discharging the same at the opening or passage 27. A pulley 55, is mounted on the rearward sprocket wheel shaft and provides opportunity for the drive shaft to drive the sprocket wheels, by means of a belt, not shown, mounted on the pulley 55,

and a pulley on the drive shaft, not shown. A belt tightener 56, .is mounted on the side of the tank and is adapted for depressing the sprocket chain in the tank, so that the plates 54 shall operate along the floor of the tank proper, or at any point adjacent the floor.

The separator embodying my invention and organized in the manner hereinabove described operates as follows: If inert or dead water is employed the gate 41, is rotated to close the openings 35, at the ends of the valleys 30, and the tank is then filled with water, preferably, to a depth of two thirds of its capacity, and the ore particles fed therein. A driving power is then applied to the driving wheel 20, and it in turn imparts a reciprocating motion to the carrier member 9, by means of the connecting rod 17 thereby imparting a forward and backward motion to the tank and effecting a disturbance of the solution in the tank, because of the lag in overcoming the inertia of the solution. When the carrier is reciprocated, it carries on the escallope'd wheels 4, and on the teeth or cogs thereof,

and thereby the carrier is vibrated with" great frequency invertical direction, producing at each vibration a violent jar or shock to the solution in the tank, thereby materially assisting in the process for liberating the mineral grains from the ore particles. When the carrier moves, the segmental cog wheel 10, is forced to .rock in the corrugated plate 6, so that in each forward and backward movement of the carrier, the latter will be tilted upwardly, at one side, whenever the segmental wheel shall pass its center. When the carrier is reciprocated, the guide bar 13, is forced to rotate in its rotative field and the end of the carrier is thereby swayed laterally, imparting to the solution in the tank a substantially swirling motion and similar to the well known miners pan motion. The above described motions and vibrations subject the solution to violent and frequent antagonistic shocks and concussions, thereby effecting complete saturation of the ore particles and segregation of the mineral grains carried thereby, the latter being provided opportunity to gravitate to and find repose in the valleys 30, in the concentrating table. WVhen the segregated mineral grains pass into the valleys 30, air under pressure is vented from the chambers 34, through the orifices l0, and directed across the valleys in upwardly ascending opposed jets which encounter the mineral grains and effects a separation therefrom of all light waste substances, such as sand, silt, and the like, thereby clean concentrates occupy the valleys, the waste substances being carried in solution, or deposited on the floor proper of the tank. It is my experience the wet process for concentrating mineral oresproduces quantities of froth and slime, both of which carry mineral grains which are lost or wasted with the tailings, because provision was not made for saturating the same to allow the mineral grains to be segragated. Froth and slime are, by my invention, trapped in compartments 51, of the bridging member 48, and therein subjected to the shocks and vibrations set up by the devices herein-above mentioned, which shock and concussion acting on the froth and slime in the narrow compartments of the bridging member effects complete saturation of the same and allow the mineral grains to be segregated. The curvature of the plates 50, induces the mineral grains to slip down the concaved surface of the plates and gravitate therefrom into the valleys 30. At the time the carrier is reciprocated the sprocket wheels 52, and the sprocket chain 53, thereon, are driven by a belt, not shown, connected be tween the pulley 55, and a pulley, not shown, on the shaft 21, and in such a manner that the drag plates 51, shall move from the receiving end of the tank to the discharge end thereof. The belt tightener 56, is adj usted to the sprocket chain to depress the same, so that the plates 51, may drag along and over the concentrating table and the floor proper of the tank and, thereby, engage and drag the tailings and discharge the same from the tank at the discharge passage therein. When it is desired to remove the concentrates the gate 41, is rotated to open the ends of the valleys, whereupon the concentrates will gravitate into the down spouts 16, and into a receptacle there below. iVhen the separator is employed to complete the process started by an auxiliary separator, the gate 41 is left open to any suitable degree and allowed to remain open, so that concentrates may gravitate from the valleys continuously. The extent of the opening of the gate depends on the capacity of the auxiliary separator, the larger run of solution requiring the greater opening, and vice versa. The separator constructed and operated as I have described requires small space and provides great capacity for ore tonnage.

Having described my invention what I claim is- 1. In an ore concentrator, the combination of a wedge-shaped table forming substantially one half of the floor thereof and having V-shaped valleys extending 1ongitudinally of the concentrator and inverted V-shaped non communicating chamber separating the valleys and adapted for venting compressed air across the latter, down spouts arranged in the floor of the concentrator at the inner ends of the valleys in said table and adapted for receiving the flow of concentrates from the valleys, and a gate rotatably mounted in the floor of the concentrator and arranged to simultaneously dam the valleys in said table and prevent the flow of concentrates from said table to said down spouts.

2. In an ore concentrator, the combination of a wedge-shaped table forming substantially one half of the floor thereof and having V-shaped valleys extending longitudinally of the concentrator and inverted V-shaped non communicating chambers separating the valleys and adapted for venting compressed air across the latter, down spouts arranged in the floor of the concentrator at the inner ends of the valleys in said table and adapted for receiving the flow of concentrates from the valleys, a gate rotatably mounted in the floor of the concentrator and arranged to simultaneously dam the valleys in said table and prevent the flow of con centrates therefrom to said down spouts, and

a bridging member mounted on the upper side'of the concentrator and provided on its lower side With spaced apart depending curved plates extending transversely of the interior of the concentrator and forming 10 compartments adapted and arranged for FREDERICK E. SMALL.

Witnesses: 7

JOHN C. STEARNS, R. C. NALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

